Thomas Buckingham

Thomas Buckingham was one of the original settlers of Milford, in 1639, having lot #36 which was located at the present corner of North Street and Governors Avenue consisting of 2 acres and 3 rods. He was one of the 7 pillars of the church headed by Rev. Peter Prudden who had headed the Weathersfield group to Milford. Thomas died in Boston, Mass. 16 June 1657 where he had gone to procure a new minister for the church in Milford, Rev. Prudden having died. His wife Hannah died 28 June 1646 and he perhaps had a second wife. This record is primarily a record of the descendants who remained in Milford and the surrounding towns.

Children:

1. Hannah b. 1632 married Thomas Welch one of the original settlers of the Prudden company. He died Milford 12 Aug 1681.
2. Daniel b. Aug 1636
3. Samuel bpt 13 June 1641 (MCI)
4. Mary bpt 27 March 1643 (MCI) married 24 Dec 1666 John Parker of Saybrook, Conn. (They had John bpt 24 may 1668 (MCI).)
5. Thomas bpt 8 Nov 8 Nov 1646 (MCI) died Saybrook, Conn. 1 April 1709 married first 20 Sept Esther Hosmer died 21 Sept 1702 daughter of Thomas; married second Mrs. Mary (Willett) Hooker widow of Samuel

Source: Families of Early Milford, Connecticut by Susan Emma Woodruff Abbott, pp 137-138.

Thomas Buckingham sailed from England in 1637 and settled in New Haven in April of 1638. In the autumn of 1639 he left there with the pastor, Peter Prudden, to organize a new settlement in Milford. "The church was organized at New Haven, Aug, 22nd, 1639, and Thomas Buckingham was one of the seven pillars of which is was composed."

Reference to Thomas Buckingham in the book about Peter Prudden - In the book Peter Prudden: a story of his life and New Haven and Milford, Conn. Thomas Buckingham is mentioned once.

• On page 24 he is listed as one of "The persons first enjoyning [sic, enjoining, i.e. joining] in the foundation [of the Milford Church] were those whose names are next under mentioned." Thomas Buckingham is one of 7 listed. The church covenant to which they subscribed is then given.

• On page 61 nother Buckingham, Samuel (most probably Thomas' son) was witness to the will of Rev. Peter Prudden's wife, Joanna Bishop.

Date of Arrival - Rev. Peter Prudden, with whom it is said that Thomas Buckingham came to Boston, arrived on 26 June 1637 according to FindAGrave.

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C07288-2 , System Origin: England-ODM , GS Film number: 991347. "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J3KJ-C2N : accessed 23 Nov 2014), Roger Buckingham in entry for Thomas Buckingham, 27 Dec 1600; citing SAINT PAULS WALDEN,HERTFORD,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 991347.

Rev. Thomas Buckingham's burial location is from Find A Grave Memorial # 68807335.

"The Buckingham family; or, The descendants of Thomas Buckingham, one of the first settlers of Milford, Conn".. Thomas Buckingham, the puritan settler, and ancestor of all the  American Buckingiiams, was one of the company to which Eaton  and Hopkins, two London merchants, and the two ministers Daven-  port and Prudden belonged.* 

They sailed from London in the two ships the Hector and the

. They arrived at Boston June 2(5. K387, and on the 30th of

March following, (1638) this company sailed tor CJuinnipack, now New Haven, where they arrived in about a fortnight, or in April, 1636. Here we find tlie name of Thomas Buckingham under the head of " Names of Planters and Division of Land according to Estate and Heads in Families," from which it appears that he had four persons in his family, an estate of £60 (or his interest in the enterprise,) and, in the first division, he received thirteen acres of uphmd, two and one-lialf on the neck and five of meadow, and in the second division twenty acres, and his yearly rate for land 10s. 2d. (Vide New Haven Town Records, vol. 1, page 18 of the copy.J His house lot was in what is called " Mr. Gregson's quarter," or the square included between Chapel and Crown, and Church and College streets. George street has since been cut through the quarter, run- ning parallel with Chapel and Crown, and there are circumstances that render it probable the house stood on, or near what is now the corner of College and George streets. If so, it was the lot on which Dr. Lyman Beecher was born. (Vide book of the New Haven Jurisdiction begun in 1652.) The aforesaid land is referred to as " Goodman Buckingham's land that was," in 1683 and, with the barn, inventoried at £36. And in 1700 it is referred to as " that one lot which was Mr. Buckmghara's." The title to this property is easily traced. In 1653, Janunry 3d, Thomas Buckingham of Mil- ford, deeds to Jeremiah Whitnell his house and house lot in New Haven. In 1653, March 7th, Jeremiah Whitnell deeds to Thomas Mitchell "• the house and house lot bought of Thomas Buckingham." And in 1659 Thomas Mitchell wills his property to his wife and daughter Elizabeth Mitchell.

In 1 682 Jeremiah Whitnell wills it to Phillip Alcoek and wife, and April 23d, 1700, Phillip Alcoek. baker of Wethersfield, deeds to John Alcoek, (his son) " for fulfilment of the will of my deceased father and mother in-law, Jeremiah and Elizabeth Wliitnell, that one lot which was Mr. Buckingham's, and part of that lot which was JNIr. Welch's square up with Mr. Buckingham s

The only other mention of the name found on the New Haven Records while he remained there, is the following : February oth, 1639. "Mr. Wilke is ordered to pay Thomas Buckingham 5 bush- els and an half of Indian corn destroyed by Mr. Wilke's hogs.

(p. 18.;

Thomas Buckingham removed to Milf jrd in the autumn of 1639. He was one of the company of which Mr. Peter Prudden was the pastor who first settled that town. The church was organized at New Haven, Aug. 22d, 1639, and Thomas Buckingham was one of the seven jiillars of which it was composed. The church records of Milford commence as follows :

MILFOKD.

" The church of Christ at Milford was first gathered at New Haven, upon August 22d, 1639. The persons first joining in the

12 BUCKINGHAM FAMEILT.

foundation were those whose names are next under mentioned : Peter Prdden, William Fowler, Edmund Tapp, Zachariah Whit- man, John At wood, Thomas Buckmgham, Thomas Welch." The following marginal notes also appear on the church records. " John Atwood died in England, July, 1654. Edmund Tapp died at New Haven, 1643. Mr. Prudden died, July, 1656. Thomas Buckingham died at Boston, 1657. William Fowler died in 1660. Mr. Whit- man died, April 25, 1666. Thomas Welch died Aug. 12, 1681."

His name stands the fifth on the list of Free Planters, bearins: date Nov. 29 1639. His house lot, containing three acres, was a little above the Second Congregational meeting house, to the right, and on the corner where the old Bryan house now stands, (1849) and is still in pos -session of his descendants on the mother's side.

In volume 1, page 4 of Milford Town Records, is "A Divi-ion of land among the several planters in rate of 4s per acre assessed upon it, Nov. 22, and Dec. 6, 1643. Thomas Buckingham, home lot 3 acres, upland, 17 ^, meadow, 8. Page 11, May 18, 1646. "This court doth give Thomas Buckingham a piece of meadow land that layeth at the end of the fence, against Bush plain."

From the records of the colony it appears, Feb. 24, 1657, Robert Treat and Thomas Buckingham were the Deputies to the General Court."

May 26, 1657, " A question was brought before the court concern- ing some fence, in difference, betwixt Thomas Buckingham and Widow Plumb of Milford," which Thomas Buckingham and Richard Baldwin, brother of Widow Plumb, adjusted, by agreeing to maintain each a certain portion of the fence. " With which agreement the court was satisfied, and desired them to live in peace and love as neighbors ought to do."

From the note on the margin of the Church Record opposite his name, it appears that he died at Boston, in the fall of 1657, " where he had gone," says one, " on business ; " " where he went," says another, " for the church to seek for them a pastor." That his par- ticular business was to find a pastor for tlie church was more than probable, as Mr. Prudden had died the year previous, and the church was without a pastor at that time. He appears to have made his will before taking his journey, which bears date Sept. 19, 1657. The following notice of his will is found in the records of the colony :

" May 23, 1659. At a court of magistrates held at New Haven for the Jurisdiction, the last will and testament of Thomas Buckino;- ham, late of Milford, deceased, was presented, made the 19 th Sept.

i

BUCKINGHAM PAMILf. 13

1657. Subscribed by Mr. William Leet, and by him witnessed to be the will and mind of the deceased."

"Also an inventory of the estate of Thomas Buckingham was presented attested, upon oath, before the court at Milford, by Ann Buckingham, the widow of the deceased, that it was a true in- ventory of all the estate and goods of her late husband, to the best of her knowledge, which amounted to £484 3s. 8d. Robert Treat and John Fletcher, appraisers, upon oath affirmed that " the apprais- ment was just according to their light."

Mr. Buckingham was twice married. 1st. To Hannah , in

England, by whom he had five children. She died at Milford, June

28, 1646. 2d. To Ann . Unfortunately, the family name

of neither of his wives has been found. His first wife, Hannah Buckingham, joined the Church at New Haven, Feb. 9, 1639, and died as above. His second wife, Ann Buckingham, made her will which was presented to the court of probate bearing date, Milford, March 18, 1686-7. (For an abstract of her will, see Appendix, note A.)

GEDCOM Note

According to "Families of Early Milford, Connecticut" by Susan Woodruff Abbott, 1979:

Thomas Buckingham was one of the original settlers of Milford, New Haven Co, CT. He arrived there from Boston, MA in the fall of 1639, having lot #36 which consisted of 2 acres and 3 rods, and was located at the present corner of North Street and Governors Ave. He was one of the "Seven Pillars of the Church" headed by Rev. Peter Prudden who had headed the Wethersfield group to Milford. Thomas died in Boston, MA where he had gone to procure a new pastor for the church in Milford, Rev. Prudden having died.
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